Verbena plant named ‘Balfiremint’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘Balfiremint’, characterized by its medium red and light pink bicolored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Verbena hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfiremint’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant botanically known as Verbena hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfiremint’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, California. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Verbena cultivars that are suited for use in hanging baskets, durable to environmental stresses, and have a mounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Verbena hybrid cultivar is a natural sport of the proprietary Verbena hybrid breeding selection coded VRB-11702-04, not patented, characterized by its dark red-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered as a side shoot and selected during June 2019 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, California.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2019 in Arroyo Grande, California and West Chicago, Illinois has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balfiremint’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant:

-   -   1. Medium red and light pink bicolored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having medium red and light pink bicolored flowers unlike the solid red-colored flowers of the female parent.

Of the many commercially available Verbena cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Firehouse Light Pink ‘Balfirelitpi’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balfirelitpi’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are less vigorous than plants of         ‘Balfirelitpi’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have medium red and light pink         bicolored flowers unlike the light pink-colored flowers of         plants of ‘Balfirelitpi’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balfiremint’. The plants were approximately 16-weeks old. The plants were grown in 4.5-inch containers for approximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Illinois. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balfiremint’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balfiremint’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in February 2023 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Illinois.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 16-week-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a polycarbonate greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Illinois in 4.5-inch containers for approximately 11 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 68° F. to 70° F. (20° C. to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (16° C. to 18° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrid ‘Balfiremint’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parent.—Proprietary Verbena hybrid breeding selection coded             VRB-11702-04, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded-spreading.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 13.0 cm. Width: Approximately 42.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 6.         -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.             Length: Approximately 18.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately             3.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.5 cm.             Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of young stems: 144A. Color of mature stems: 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 10. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, obtuse angle with             age. Shape: Ovate to oblong. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Truncate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 4.2 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Densely             pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent with             a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface of young and             mature foliage: Closest to but darker than 137A with             venation of 147C. Color of lower surface of young and mature             foliage: Closest to but darker than 138A with venation of             147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 147C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balfiremint’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 7 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Corymb. Shape: Hemispherical.             Quantity per plant: Approximately 9. Fragrance: None             detected. Length or height: 3.0 cm. Width: Approximately             6.5 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 16.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color: 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Sessile, salverform.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity of             unopened inflorescences per plant: Approximately 8.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, globular at apex.             Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately             3.0 mm. Color: Petal portion 37B, sepal portion 137B.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 2.2 cm.             Depth: Approximately 3.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused at base forming a tube. Shape:             Obovate. Appearance: Matte. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Emarginate. Length of upper petals from tube: Approximately             1.0 cm. Width of upper petals: Approximately 8.0 mm. Length             of lateral petals from tube: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of             lateral petals: Approximately 9.0 mm. Length of lower petal             from tube: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of lower petal:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous             with glandular pubescent base. Texture of lower surface:             Sparsely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of upper surface when first open: Broad flared center             of N45A bordered with 35D. Color of lower surface when first             open: 37D with underlay of N45D in broad flared center.             Color of upper surface when fully open: Broad flared center             of N45B bordered with 37D. Color of lower surface when fully             open: 38D with underlay of N45D in broad flared center.             Color of whiskers surrounding the opening of the corolla             tube: NN155D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter at             proximal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at distal end:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer surface:             Approximately upper half moderately glandular pubescent with             lower portion glabrous. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Texture of inner surface: Approximately upper half densely             pubescent with lower portion glabrous. Color of outer             surface: 145D with 155C at base. Color of inner surface:             NN155D with 145C at throat opening.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with 5 acute tips. Length:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:             Linear. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Moderately             pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with             a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of inner and outer surfaces:             137B.         -   Stipules.—Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Three acute tips             arranged in a cross shape. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm.             Width at base: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner             surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely             pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular             hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner             and outer surfaces: 137A with 144A at base.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4,             didynamous. Stamen length of longer pair: Approximately             2.0 mm. Stamen length of shorter pair: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately             1.0 mm. Anther color: N144D. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen             color: 1D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma             length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 137A and 187A.             Style length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Style color: 145D with             145B near stigma. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Ovary texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Verbena has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Balfiremint’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 